The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Tool box labels

Finally broke down and bought myself a good big tool box with ball bearing drawers. Have you guys found some good drawer labels, preferably magnetic for changing my mind, so I don't have to open 1/2 the drawers to find what I need?

Allen, on some of mine I simply used an embossing gun. You can buy them the five and dime...or wally world for cheap/ print what you want, peel off the back and stick it on your tool box. Pick your color. If you change things it only takes a minute to redo one.

Find yourself a labeler like a Brothers machine, etc. Get yourself a magnetic sheet from McMaster. Cut to size, have at it.

I use both of the above methods, but 1" paint tape & a sharpie works just as good. Put clear packing tape over it if you want it 'weather-resistant'.

Brad

Sounds like a plan, thanks fellas

If you know someone with an engraving machine, these are done in brushed/anodized aluminum..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y1...0and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture109.jpg


Not as visible in this picture, but used the same ones on the top of the tool box drawer pulls...


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y1...0and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture100.jpg


We had one of the New Hermes Pantograph machines at a previous employer... working through lunch, yeah..

...and even another idea would be to have a trophy shop laser engrave the little think tin labels like goes on trophys but do it in small strips...and if you know someone that has one of those VINYL label making machines they can be nice.

The high end tool box makers also have labels. Just ask.

I was going to go to all that trouble Allen, I do have my drawers lined and then foam cutouts for most of them. I stopped short of labeling because I was never sure exactly where I wanted each set of tools. In the end, in making the cutouts and just using the tools, I learned where everything was and then found it wasn't necessary. But it would look really cool and make it easier for others to 'borrow' your tools!

Found 'em on Amazon and Sears already made up for $10. Seems that might be the easiest. Could not find any on Snap-on site.

What do the labels say? I've never had a big toolbox- I mostly work out of bags & tote boxes & I am just curious... "wrenches", "screwdrivers", etc?

Most of my labeled boxes say, "Misc. Hardware" & "Loose Rounds"

And it seems that labeling the drawers is more of a self-organizing reminder than anything -make yourself put your tools back up in the correct place. A bunch of good labeling ideas came out of this thread for sure.

Brad

"TOOLS"

My tool box does have labels on the drawers, but not from me. My wife and daughters got them as a "gift" and put them on...so they could easily find the tools they were looking for. Guess it's OK, because it also helps them put them back in the right place (most of the time).

Bob

labels

I worked out of a dozen or so totes for most of my life Brad.
My tools would eventually end up in piles on the work benches.
I finally broke down and bought a Sears Ceaftsman upper and
lower rolling cabinet about five or six years back. A week
later I stopped by a buddies place and he had just bought a
MasteCraft roller from Menards, same as my Craftsman, upper
and lower that is.
This MasterCraft box was so much better made there simply
wasn't any comparing the two. Bigger stronger wheels, bigger
stronger grip, heavier cabinet all round, drawers were silky
smooth and came with liners, Sears dint. That very afternoon
I took the Craftsman back and stopped by Menards on the way
home. A week later I bought another set for my tune-up and
body tools. Don't know why I waited 70 years for a decent tool
cabinet. Now.....all I have to do is learn to put things back
after I use them instead of piling them up on the benches.

DG

I have an old snap-on bottom, mid, and top box; a lot of drawers. No labels and very rarely do I open the wrong one now, though it took a few months to get to that point.

Just put the stuff in the drawers in a way that suits you, and put them back the same.
My most frequently used drawers are
-screwdrivers
-Combo wrenches up to 1" and all flare nut wrenches
-Wrenches over 1" and various others
-3/8" and 1/4" drive (same drawer)
-pliers
-pliers (second choice)
-Pry bars, adjustable wrenches

All other drawers hold like things, punches in one, chisels in another, specialty and tune up in another and so on..
Might not suit anyone else or even be ideal but it works for me.

If labels are what you really want try searching for "printable magnetic label sheets" and make them to suit.

So I did all of the things the above posters did. Wife asked for labels, so she could find things in the roll-around with out pulling every thing to look inside. A Brother label printer did work just fine. press and stick. A bit of de-greaser and the label is off. Won't hurt the finish and lets me change my mind. Worst part was peeling the backing off. The liners and the cut outs are hangovers from working for the Air Force. Good thing is I know when something is missing. Bad thing, is changing my mind. And then making new cut outs. I do get some comfort when moving the tool boxes around. They are quiet. No tools banging around in there. Down side? Some tools don't fit into the cutouts very well. That vacuum gauge is fine, the vacuum line not so much. Power cords are messy as well. Better way to waste time has never been invented.

Steve, on the power cords have you ever used the Wonder Winder? Man, I got me one years ago and love it. Usually about $20 bucks.
.....or take that old drop cord self winding reel and make you a drop cord out of it too.

EDIT: Wonder Winder...and shop around for price.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=wonder+winder

That is what I would use for the extension cords. Great idea. I was fussing about the power cords on the drill, grinder and Dremel tool. They can get caught in the drawer and make you nuts. I use a hair elastic to tame them but still messy. I know, I know, fussy fussy.

I found a dymo label printer at walmart on clearance one day for $10 bucks. I printed nice labels for all my drawers. The drawers i used often, I go right to them. Don't even need to look. The ones I don't use often, I still end up looking through all the others. This assumes that I put my tools away regularly in the appropriate place. They usually get strewn about the shop, then I gather them all up in a 5 gallon bucket and re-organize the box. Or just look through the bucket.